View full sizeEllen M. Blalock / The Post-StandardRobert Thompson is sentenced by Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi for the knifepoint robbery of an 81-year-old woman outside a post office in Syracuse.

Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse man was sentenced to the maximum penalty of 25 years in state prison today for the knifepoint robbery of an elderly woman outside a post office where she had stopped to mail a letter.

"It was a cowardly act on his part to attack a senior," victim Agnes Adams said of Robert Thompson Jr. in addressing the court at today's sentencing.

Adams, who was 81 at the time of the October crime, said she had been happily enjoying her retirement when Thompson "interrupted" her Golden Years by his conduct. She told County Judge Anthony Aloi she now feels unsafe and frightened all the time as a result of the incident.

Adams had stopped at the post office near the corner of South Salina and West Colvin streets about 7:45 a.m. Oct. 8 to mail a letter when Thompson approached her and asked for money.

When Adams said she didn't have any and got back in her car, Thompson pulled open the passenger door, reached in and grabbed Adams' purse.

Adams struggled to hold onto the purse because it contained personal information. Thompson pulled a knife and held it to her neck. Adams then handed over a loose bill from the purse and Thompson fled.

He was caught moments later after Adams immediately called 911 and provided a detailed description of the suspect.

Robert Thompson SentencingRobert Thompson sentenced by County Judge Anthony Aloi for knifepoint robbery of an elderly woman outside a post office.

"I apologize, but I'm not the person," Thompson said, turning to look directly at Adams and two of her daughters as they sat in the courtroom for his sentencing.

"This is not me. This is not what I do," he said.

One of Adams' daughters, Alexis Mitchell, also addressed the court to describe the trauma faced by her mother as a result of the crime. She said crimes against the elderly are "especially cruel" and that Thompson deserved a maximum penalty to protect the community from him.

Adams told the judge the incident had changed her life.

Aloi called her courageous and heroic for standing up to the thief and for cooperating with the police and prosecution to catch Thompson and see that he was convicted.

"Our seniors should be cherished, not abused," the judge told Thompson.

Aloi called Thompson a "despicable, heartless and dangerous person." Elderly people are valuable to their families and the community but exceptionally vulnerable to "pathetic" people like Thompson, the judge noted.

A jury deliberated only about 90 minutes last month before convicting Thompson, 33, of West Colvin Street, of first-degree robbery and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Defense lawyer Charles Keller asked Aloi to sentence Thompson to less than 10 years in prison. Assistant District Attorney Kerry Buske asked for a sentence of 20 years.

Aloi then imposed the maximum penalty of 25 years. The judge noted there were no words adequate to describe the feeling Adams described having when she heard the "click" of Thompson's knife as he placed the weapon to her neck that October morning.

The click of that weapon could be heard as the knife was displayed in court during the trial, the judge added.

"She is the courageous one. She is the brave one," Aloi said of the victim.

In addition to the maximum prison sentence, Aloi ordered Thompson to pay $20 in restitution for the money taken from Adams in the robbery.